Standardized testing is common way to assess student's learning and progression in the educational environment. They are also used as comparisons between schools and states among schools across the country. Tests are administered to children annually grades 3-8 and throughout high school. Most tests include multiple choice math and English sections.Many teachers in schools are being offering incentives such as Merit Pay if students show improvement in their test scores. Although standardized testing has some benefits, people are beginning to believe that they are an inaccurate way to evaluate children and contain many bias'. Standardized tests are used to provide a standard by which all students are evaluated. However, studies have shown that these tests are hurting children who need the most help in our school rather than helping them. Below, is a brief overview of our research into standardized tests.
II. Research Summary
Cara's research detailed the underlying issues concerned with standardized testing today. There are numerous questions surrounding standardized testing and their validity in measuring intelligence. The tests leave no room for imagination or abstract thinking; children learn on so many different levels that narrowing down not only the material they are learning but also the method of their learning can be very detrimental. There is so much emphasis placed on taking standardized tests, that many teachers spend valuable class time preparing their students for them and limiting their learning to only what is covered on the test. SAT-prep courses are given to not expand a child's knowledge, but merely teach them how to take a test correctly. More people are beinning to believe that standardized tests are a better way of evaluating a child's test taking skills than their actual intelligence.
Shaina's research involved the current incentives, and lack of, for today's standardized tests. In some schools, a merit pay system has been established so that if teacher's students improve their tests scores, that teacher is paid more money. President Obama is also giving grants to school districts that are improving their education, especially raising the standards and difficulties of standardized tests. There have also been a lack of incentives lately, with many people believing standardized tests should not longer be used, including the SAT.
Iain's research was on the different types of standardized testing. There are many that are put in-place across the nation due to the no child left behind act. In Rhode Island, for example, the state test that is now required to graduate from high school is the NECAP test. The major tests that students take in preparation for college are the SAT and ACT. Also schools are now looking at alternatives to standardized tests. Examples of these are: student teacher interviews, criteria-based tests, and contract grading.
III. Group Product Overview
We will start off by giving a standardized test to the class that is made up of practice SAT questions. Next we will discuss our presentation through a power point. After the power point we will give the class the answers to the standardized test questions and have a class discussion about the importance and necessity of standardized testing. We want to engage the class and learn about their real life experiences with these tests as well as inform them of the research we have found.
Majority Opinion:
As a group, I think we have all come to the conclusion that standardized testing has many crucial issues relating to the test's validity and overall evaluating techniques. The message of these tests does not seem to be one concerned with enhancing education and promoting beneficial learning. Moreover, standardized testing appears to be hurting the children to need the most help with relation to understanding and comprehending school material. We believe that standardized tests are a great evaluation measure for, in fact, the a student's ability to take a test rather than their intelligence. They do not show room for improvement or potential, they seemly determine how a student reacts under the pressure of tests. Also, many times incentives given to teachers and students such as raises or more choices for college admission are simply teaching children that we are a test-based society where hard work is not accounted for. Alternatives to standardized testing may be the only hope to rid our society of these tests which we believe, seem to not evaluate what they are intended to, but rather hurt and refocus student's attention on ends rather than means.
Individual Opinions:
Cara- I was very surprised to hear the information collected through our research on standardized testing. I remember some tests taken during high school and personally, I remember my friends and I not taking them seriously because they did not necessarily reflect our grades. Unfortunately, however, these tests are used to rank and compare schools to see how well they are performing. I do not entirely agree with the idea of standardized tests because it seems almost impossible to account everyone under one label and consider them under performing or over achieving. Schools with more diversity and less money tend score lower than children from better schools and homes. This trend was seen across the nation and these standardized tests do not seem to be helping the children who genuinely need the educational support. Personally, I cringe at the thought of tests, and I believe that many tests are designed to evaluate one's test-taking ability. Whether or not a student is successfully learning a subject is not necessarily seen in their standardized test score. I believe that there does need to be a basis to evaluate and compare school districts, but I am not too sure that standardized tests are the right route. President Obama's plan to give grants to schools who are performing well on these tests is a positive incentive to do well on these tests, but again, I do not think that it is teaching children the essentials of education and learning, but rather showing them rewards for how well they prepare or are able to take standardized tests.
Shaina- After doing research on standardized tests I feel like they are an unnecessary component of the education system. Because results on standardized tests often do not count towards student's grades, I think that a large percentage of the students do not take these tests seriously. Therefore, the results are useless and should not be used to compare schools to one another. I like the idea of reforming the NCLB so that it doesn't only focus on standardized tests. Using students' portfolios, essays, tests, and other school work will give a much more accurate result to how students are performing across the nation. Standardized test have been in place for such a long time that I don't think they will be leaving the school system any time soon.
Standardized Testing
I. Description of Problem or Issue
Standardized testing is common way to assess student's learning and progression in the educational environment. They are also used as comparisons between schools and states among schools across the country. Tests are administered to children annually grades 3-8 and throughout high school. Most tests include multiple choice math and English sections.Many teachers in schools are being offering incentives such as Merit Pay if students show improvement in their test scores. Although standardized testing has some benefits, people are beginning to believe that they are an inaccurate way to evaluate children and contain many bias'. Standardized tests are used to provide a standard by which all students are evaluated. However, studies have shown that these tests are hurting children who need the most help in our school rather than helping them. Below, is a brief overview of our research into standardized tests.II. Research Summary
Cara's research detailed the underlying issues concerned with standardized testing today. There are numerous questions surrounding standardized testing and their validity in measuring intelligence. The tests leave no room for imagination or abstract thinking; children learn on so many different levels that narrowing down not only the material they are learning but also the method of their learning can be very detrimental. There is so much emphasis placed on taking standardized tests, that many teachers spend valuable class time preparing their students for them and limiting their learning to only what is covered on the test. SAT-prep courses are given to not expand a child's knowledge, but merely teach them how to take a test correctly. More people are beinning to believe that standardized tests are a better way of evaluating a child's test taking skills than their actual intelligence.Shaina's research involved the current incentives, and lack of, for today's standardized tests. In some schools, a merit pay system has been established so that if teacher's students improve their tests scores, that teacher is paid more money. President Obama is also giving grants to school districts that are improving their education, especially raising the standards and difficulties of standardized tests. There have also been a lack of incentives lately, with many people believing standardized tests should not longer be used, including the SAT.
Iain's research was on the different types of standardized testing. There are many that are put in-place across the nation due to the no child left behind act. In Rhode Island, for example, the state test that is now required to graduate from high school is the NECAP test. The major tests that students take in preparation for college are the SAT and ACT. Also schools are now looking at alternatives to standardized tests. Examples of these are: student teacher interviews, criteria-based tests, and contract grading.
III. Group Product Overview
We will start off by giving a standardized test to the class that is made up of practice SAT questions. Next we will discuss our presentation through a power point. After the power point we will give the class the answers to the standardized test questions and have a class discussion about the importance and necessity of standardized testing. We want to engage the class and learn about their real life experiences with these tests as well as inform them of the research we have found.IV. Visual Representation
Research Question
Researcher
1. What are the incentives to standardized testing? Shaina Fimbel2.What are different types of Standardized testing? Iain McCoy
3. What are the problems with Standardized Testing? Cara Brown
V. Group Reaction/Opinion(s) about Issue
Majority Opinion:
As a group, I think we have all come to the conclusion that standardized testing has many crucial issues relating to the test's validity and overall evaluating techniques. The message of these tests does not seem to be one concerned with enhancing education and promoting beneficial learning. Moreover, standardized testing appears to be hurting the children to need the most help with relation to understanding and comprehending school material. We believe that standardized tests are a great evaluation measure for, in fact, the a student's ability to take a test rather than their intelligence. They do not show room for improvement or potential, they seemly determine how a student reacts under the pressure of tests. Also, many times incentives given to teachers and students such as raises or more choices for college admission are simply teaching children that we are a test-based society where hard work is not accounted for. Alternatives to standardized testing may be the only hope to rid our society of these tests which we believe, seem to not evaluate what they are intended to, but rather hurt and refocus student's attention on ends rather than means.
Individual Opinions:
Cara- I was very surprised to hear the information collected through our research on standardized testing. I remember some tests taken during high school and personally, I remember my friends and I not taking them seriously because they did not necessarily reflect our grades. Unfortunately, however, these tests are used to rank and compare schools to see how well they are performing. I do not entirely agree with the idea of standardized tests because it seems almost impossible to account everyone under one label and consider them under performing or over achieving. Schools with more diversity and less money tend score lower than children from better schools and homes. This trend was seen across the nation and these standardized tests do not seem to be helping the children who genuinely need the educational support. Personally, I cringe at the thought of tests, and I believe that many tests are designed to evaluate one's test-taking ability. Whether or not a student is successfully learning a subject is not necessarily seen in their standardized test score. I believe that there does need to be a basis to evaluate and compare school districts, but I am not too sure that standardized tests are the right route. President Obama's plan to give grants to schools who are performing well on these tests is a positive incentive to do well on these tests, but again, I do not think that it is teaching children the essentials of education and learning, but rather showing them rewards for how well they prepare or are able to take standardized tests.
Shaina- After doing research on standardized tests I feel like they are an unnecessary component of the education system. Because results on standardized tests often do not count towards student's grades, I think that a large percentage of the students do not take these tests seriously. Therefore, the results are useless and should not be used to compare schools to one another. I like the idea of reforming the NCLB so that it doesn't only focus on standardized tests. Using students' portfolios, essays, tests, and other school work will give a much more accurate result to how students are performing across the nation. Standardized test have been in place for such a long time that I don't think they will be leaving the school system any time soon.